By Segun Olatunji
Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of masterminding the omission of its governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, from a list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday.
The opposition party alleged that the development was the result of pressure from APC, which it accused of being apprehensive about the PDP’s chances in the 2027 governorship election in the state.
The Ogun PDP however, maintained that Adebutu remained a bona fide member of the party, insisting that its governorship candidate met and fulfilled the party’s membership registration requirements within the stipulated period.
The opposition party therefore urged its members and supporters in the state to remain calm, expressing confidence that the issue would be resolved ahead of the next year’s governorship election.
PDP state Publicity Secretary, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, in a statement on the development, insisted that Adebutu participated in the party’s digital membership registration exercise, during which his membership card was printed and verified before being submitted to INEC within the prescribed timeframe.
“We state emphatically that our candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has never left the Peoples Democratic Party at any time. He duly registered as a member of the party within the designated period of the digital registration exercise, and his membership card was printed, verified and submitted to INEC at the stipulated time,” the statement partly read.
The party however blamed its candidate’s omission from the INEC list on what it described as political interference, accusing the APC of plotting to undermine its chances ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“The omission of our candidate’s name from INEC’s list is a consequence of the undue pressure allegedly mounted on the commission by the ruling party out of fear of losing the election to our party,” the statement added.
PDP, however, expressed optimism that Adebutu’s name would be included in the relevant list of candidates, reaffirming its commitment to fully participating in the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
The party urged the people of Ogun State not to be distracted by the development, encouraging its members and supporters to remain focused on their political objectives and continue mobilising for the 2027 election.
“While we urge the good people of Ogun State not to be perturbed or distracted from our collective resolve to vote out the APC, we remain resolute, unfazed and unwaveringly confident that our candidate is marching towards a decisive victory in the 2027 governorship election,” the PDP further said.
The opposition party assured that the development would not discourage the people of Ogun State from demanding better governance and positive change.
“No amount of desperate manipulation, political witch-hunts or calculated distractions can alter the mandate of the people of Ogun State, who are overwhelmingly eager for true leadership and positive change,” the PDP said.
The opposition party, while reiterating its appeal for calm, urged its members, supporters and other stakeholders to remain steadfast and undeterred as it intensifies its political activities ahead of the 2027 election.
“Once again, we call on all our teeming supporters, party faithful and the general public to remain steadfast, vigilant and unintimidated as the unstoppable movement to rescue Ogun State and bring relief to our people continues to gain momentum,” the PDP further stated.
